Whether it's to mark the end of an era or welcome a new one, El Pasoans are expected to come out in droves to see the demolition of City Hall on April 14.

Some Downtown hotels and restaurants are planning viewing parties, breakfasts or lunches around the event, although city officials are strongly encouraging people to watch the event on TV instead. City Hall is expected to go down at 9 a.m.

That's also where the officials in charge of the Asarco smokestacks demolition are encouraging the public to watch the stacks fall in the early morning of April 13. The Mount Cristo Rey Restoration Committee on Wednesday canceled its plans to allow people to watch from the site for a donation, citing liability and other concerns.

REPORTER

Cindy Ramirez

University of Texas at El Paso officials said they haven't decided whether the campus will close its entrances during either of those days or allow the public to park and watch from some of its high points that offer a clear view of the stacks and some views of City Hall.

The El Paso DoubleTree by Hilton is advertising a "Dreams to Reality" package that offers the "best viewing of this spectacular memorable event" of the City Hall implosion, according to its website.

The hotel features a Sunset Terrace, Sky Lounge and a ballroom that has unobstructed views of Downtown and the City Hall building.

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"This is a very historic moment in El Paso," DoubleTree owner Jim Scherr said, adding that the hotel has had interest from El Pasoans as well as people outside the city wanting to witness the implosion firsthand. "We wanted to offer guests a spectacular, memorable event and have a first-class party."

The hotel is having an implosion party from midnight April 13 to noon April 14, when the hotel will be open only to guests with reservations and authorized staff. The party packages, ranging from about $250 to $300, include a gourmet dinner, cocktails, music, breakfast and, of course, a clear view of the demolition.

"The main issue is we anticipate a lot of people wanting to see this event who know we have the best view," Scherr said. "We needed to have some security to make sure our guests feel safe and for crowd control."

The DoubleTree will have extra security on board, and only those guests and staff with identification badges will be allowed on the premises, Scherr said.

The Holiday Inn Express is also offering a "Demolition Special," with breakfast "and a glass of champagne to toast a farewell to City Hall," according to its website. The site says there will be a shuttle service available, but doesn't specify where the shuttle will take people. Officials with the hotel didn't return calls Wednesday.

City officials plan to close off a section of streets near City Hall, from Interstate 10 south to about San Antonio Street and from about West Franklin Street east to about El Paso Street. No evacuations are planned, but people won't be allowed to be inside that zone, city officials said.

Demolition crews will set up barriers at the site that will be patrolled by police, city officials said.

While the City Hall building is expected to fall into its own footprint and the open parking lot around it, a cloud of dust is expected to envelop the area for up to 15 minutes, officials have said.

City Rep. Susie Byrd said she invites people to watch the demolition from Scenic Drive, which is closed to motorists from 6 to 11 a.m. Sundays starting this weekend.

"You can walk or bike up there and the watch the demolition," Byrd said. "It's a great view, and the best part is that you get to see all of Downtown and imagine the new skyline with the ballpark."

Veronica Soto, executive director of the Downtown Management District, said she doesn't view the demolition as something to celebrate. But, she said, it is something everyone wants to see and an event that marks a new beginning for Downtown.

"I don't think people want to celebrate it, but to take a moment to say wow to a historic event," Soto said. "It's a tangible that things are changing Downtown."

The event doesn't have to be somber, either, but instead could be seen as a sign of change -- a loud, large, explosive change.

"Nothing tells you that Downtown is changing like a big construction zone," Soto said. "This is a big construction zone, and I think the implosion, in a very dramatic way, signals that Downtown is changing for the better, that the face of Downtown is going to be forever changed."

The DMD next week is meeting with Downtown business owners who have expressed interest in holding special events on demolition day or who have questions about whether they should shut down that morning.

Soto said those businesses within and abutting the boundaries of the exclusion zone want to accommodate crowds who may be Downtown that day, but want to ensure they do so safely.

Among them is the El Paso Club, which typically has a members' brunch the second Sunday of the month at its La Vista Dining and Lounge in the Chase Building Downtown.

"We hope to be open, but we have to consider that we're being asked to shut down our vents and extractors and air conditioners," General Manager Bobby Lyons said.

Others will watch from the rooftop of the Plaza Hotel, the Camino Real, and other nearby buildings and parking garages just outside the exclusion zone.

Sal Gomez of the Coalition for Responsive Government, who led two petition drives to save City Hall, said he will have a candlelight vigil the evening before demolition day.

"I consider it a funeral. I feel like I have to say some parting words and bid farewell," he said. "This is going to be a very sad moment for me and the thousands of people who signed the petitions to save City Hall."

Gomez said he wants to get as close as city and demolition officials will allow him during demolition day.

"I've been fighting this for almost a year so I feel I have to be there till the end."